Challenge accepted
The Mavericks are in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals for the first time in the Luka Doncic era, and it’s fair to argue that their run of success in the 2024 Playoffs stems from their willingness to take big risks. In the last one and a half years, they have underscored their capacity to go all in at every turn precisely to get to where they are now. The job’s not done, of course; in the way of their claim to the Larry O’Brien Trophy are the heavily favored Celtics, perhaps only fitting given the strength of the competition they have faced en route. That said, there can be no discounting the significant strides they have made in order to emerge at the top of the stacked West.
Back when the Mavericks acquired All-Star Kyrie Irving in February 2023, the hope was that he would be the perfect complement to Doncic. No doubt, he was a proven crunchtime scorer with a championship pedigree, capable of taking a chunk of the load carried by the engine of their heliocentric system. At the same time, “hope” remained the operative word, since his brilliance on the court was accompanied by glaring missteps off it. It was likewise important that note that he carried with him an expiring contract — which meant that he could very well be a short rental. Given his mercurial nature, there was cause to be wary of his plans.
The Mavericks would go on to miss the 2023 Playoffs, with their 9-18 record after Irving’s arrival putting them once again at a crossroads. Any number of things could have happened then, but they saw fit to double down on their belief that his pairing with Doncic would work out. They contended that the fit between the two marquee names would improve to a healthy degree if the right pieces were gathered. And so they became active in the offseason and, more importantly, at the trade deadline, subsequently coming up with a roster that both maximized the strengths and minimized the weaknesses of their most vital cogs.
In retrospect, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford were just what the Mavericks needed to backstop Doncic and Irving. The front office couldn’t have been completely certain of the outcome; the two may well have been a net negative, just as Grant Williams turned out to be. Still, there was no stopping head honchos from taking high-reward gambles — and to argue that these have paid off in spades would be to understate the extent of their accomplishments.
The Mavericks have four days to prepare for their biggest challenge yet. Their competition emerged from the regular season with the best record by far for a reason, and they know they have their work cut out for them if they want to celebrate in downtown Dallas when the battlesmoke clears. Make no mistake, however; they’re not in the least bit fazed by the task at hand. For all the supposed superiority of the Celtics, they know their fate is theirs to craft, and they aim to make the most of the opportunity.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.